Phlox plant named ‘Dophlowowhi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Dophlowowhi’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely flowering habit; relatively large white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox x procumbens.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOPHLOWOWHI’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Phlox Plant Named ‘Dophlowoli’

Inventor: Ellen van Sambeek

Filed: Concurrently with this application application Ser. No.17/140,094

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Dümmen Group B.V. of De Lier,The Netherlands on Aug. 12, 2020, application number 2020/1897. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orApplicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior artexemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior tothe filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filingdate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phloxplant, botanically known as Phlox x procumbens and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Dophlowowhi’.

The new Phlox plant is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program was to create new freely-flowering Phlox plants withlarge attractive flowers.

The new Phlox plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in April, 2013 in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, of a proprietaryselection of Phlox x procumbens identified as code number SB-0042, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofPhlox x procumbens identified as code number SB10-000002-005, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phlox plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands in April, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by vegetative cuttings in acontrolled environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands since June, 2014 hasshown that the unique features of this new Phlox plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dophlowowhi’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Dophlowowhi’ as a new and distinct Phlox plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Relatively large white-colored flowers.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in plant habit as plants of the new Phlox are morecompact than plants of the female parent selection. In addition, plantsof the new Phlox have shorter peduncles than plants of the female parentselection.

Plants of the new Phlox differ primarily from plants of the male parentselection in plant habit as plants of the new Phlox are more uprightthan and not as creeping as plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to Phlox x procumbens‘Dophlowoli’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent filed concurrently, inflower color as plants of the new Phlox have white-colored flowerswhereas plants of ‘Dophlowoli’ have light purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Phlox can also be compared to plants of Phlox xprocumbens ‘Emerald Cushion Blue’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Phlox and ‘Emerald Cushion Blue’ differin the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox are more upright than and not as        creeping as plants of ‘Emerald Cushion Blue’.    -   2. Plants of the new Phlox have larger flowers than plants of        ‘Emerald Cushion Blue’.    -   3. Plants of the new Phlox and ‘Emerald Cushion Blue’ differ in        flower color as plants of the new Phlox have white-colored        flowers whereas plants of ‘Emerald Cushion Blue’ have light        blue-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Phlox plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Phlox plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering plant of ‘Dophlowowhi’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the end of winter and earlyspring in 17-cm containers initially in a glass-covered greenhouse andfinished in an outdoor nursery in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial Phlox production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures averaged 21° C. and nighttemperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were pinched one time two weeksafter planting rooted young plants and plants were 37 weeks old when thephotograph and the description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, Second Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox x procumbens ‘Dophlowowhi’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox x            procumbens identified as code number SB-0042, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox x            procumbens identified as code number SB10-000002-005, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at            temperatures about 26° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at            temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 24 days            at temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white to light yellow in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial typically grown            as a container and garden plant; upright to outwardly            spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit            and relatively slow growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 11 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 19 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Branching habit: Freely branching habit            with numerous primary and secondary lateral branches            developing per plant. Length: About 15 cm. Internode length:            About 1.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 20° to 80°            from vertical. Texture and luster: Pubescent; semi-glossy.            Color: Close to 138A; with development, close to 138A tinged            with close to 178A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, decussate; simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 2 cm.        -   Width.—About 7 mm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire, slightly ciliate.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Slightly pubescent;            semi-glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Slightly pubescent;            glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Hyphodromous.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143C.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 141D. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,            close to 139A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 139A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate and            salverform flowers arranged in terminal and lateral            panicles; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly depending            on position on inflorescence; freely flowering habit with            about three open flowers per inflorescence and about 333            flowers developing per plant during the flowering season.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 35            weeks after planting; plants flower in April and May in the            garden in The Netherlands; flowers persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Elliptical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            matte. Color: Close to 155A.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 8 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.2 cm by 2.2 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 6 mm.        -   Flower diameter, proximally.—About 2 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Lobe            length: About 1 cm. Lobe width: About 8 mm. Lobe shape:            Obovate. Lobe apex: Rounded. Lobe margin: Entire; slightly            undulate. Lobe texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Tube texture and luster: Pubescent; matte.            Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            155D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 155D;            color does not change with development. Throat: Close to            155D; venation, close to 155D. Tube: Close to 155C;            venation, close to 155C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl, fused towards the base; calyx, tubular in shape.            Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Narrowly            deltoid, subulate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture            and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; glossy.            Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 141A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 137A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 40° from lateral            branch axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent; semi-glossy.            Color: Close to 138A tinged with close to 178A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 5° to 35° from            peduncle axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent; semi-glossy.            Color: Close to 147A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five. Filament length: About 6 mm. Filament color: Close to            155C. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Elliptical.            Anther color: Close to 21A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen            color: Close to 21A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma diameter: About 0.5 mm.            Stigma shape: Cleft, three-parted. Stigma color: Close to            150A. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: Close to 149A.            Ovary color: Close to 140A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Phlox.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,    temperatures ranging from −35° C. to 35° C. and to be suitable for    USDA Hardiness Zone 3.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Phlox have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Phlox plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Dophlowowhi’ asillustrated and described.